Billfold



Aug. 16, 1966 Filed Sept. 13, 1963 B. L. SNYDER BILLFOLD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L/Snyded. W fliwomze y a '1 '1 I .2 I 1' 1 IL. l I .1

B. L. SNYDER B ILLFOLD Filed Sept. 13, 1965 Bw am-z'a 6y Aug. 15, 1966 Filed Sept. 13, 1963 B. L. SNYDER 3,266,544

BILLFOLD 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 B. L SNYDER Aug. 16, 1966 BILLFOLD 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 13, 1965 United States Patent 3,266,544 BILLFOLD Benjamin L. Snyder, Brookline, Mass. (821 Hobson St., Union, NJ.) Filed Sept. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 308,860 6 Claims. (Cl. 150-38) The present application is a continuation-impart of my co-pending application Serial No. 289,510, filed June 21, 1963, and now abandoned. This invention relates to the construction of billfolds, wallets, and similar articles.

The most common type of billfold is made ofa single piece of leather folded over and joined along the ends to form a rectangular pocket open along one of its long edges to receive bills. In use, the billfold is again (folded on itself transversely. In its simplest form, such billfold, when empty, has the bulk of four thicknesses of leather plus four layers of lining material, if it is lined. When pockets for holding cards, licenses, and similar articles are added, the bulk is increased considerably. Such a billfold is relatively expensive to manufacture because, as all the outer leather surfaces are exposed, the entire piece must be cut from an area of the hide without flaws, resulting in considerable waste of leather. Furthermore the pockets do not always serve th users individual needs, because of the variety of shapes and sizes of calling cards, credit cards, licenses, charge plates, and similar items which he or she may wish to carry. Furthermore the billfold quickly loses its shape and cards are likely to become bent and soiled.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a billfold which can be manufactured more economically than present types, which eliminates a considerable amount of the bulk, and which will hold bills and a wide variety of other items in a more convenient and readily accessible arrangement. Another object is to provide a billfold which holds its shape and effectively protects the contents. Still another object is to provide a billfold from which a selected bill may be Withdrawn Without exposing the entire contents.

The billfold here described has a rear wall portion and a pair of flaps overlying that portion and snapped together. At least one of the flaps is secured to the rear wall along one end by a rigid channel shape frame member which also holds a rectangular ball through which bills may be inserted. In its simplest form, adapted for carrying bills only, the parts just described constitute the entire assembly.

In another form an additional pair of flaps are attached onto the outer side of the rear wall portion and form a second compartment with a second bar, carrying a second bail, disposed along one end. The second compartment can be made of a size to hold bills, in order to keep those of larger denomination separate from those of small denomination, or may be of a length to hold a block of checks. In still another form, adapted to hold cards as well as bills, the rear wall of the bill compartment forms the front wall of a box-like card compartment which has rigid side reinforcements and is accessible by opening a flap which extends around one end and is snapped toa front flap on the bill compartment. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a billfold constructed according to the invention, intended for bills only;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the billfold of FIG. 1 as it appears when fully open, some bills being shown in position in dotted outline;

FIG. 3 is an exploded View of the parts used to make the billfold of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the parts used to construct a second form of the billfold intended for holding identification cards and other material as well as bills;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the billfold assembled from the parts of FIG. 5 in open position;

'FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the billfold of FIG. 6 in closed position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-section taken along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-section taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective rear view of a modification of the billfold of FIGS. 6 to 8;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the parts used to make another form of the billfold;

FIG. 12 is a cross-section of a billfold assembled from the parts of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-section of a variation of the billfold material, a channel shaped metal frame piece 12, enclosing one side of a bail 13 which is in the form of a rectangular loop, and a metal reinforcing piece 14. Blank 10 is scored along lines 15 to define a first portion 10a, and along line 16 to define a second flap portion 10b, leaving a rear wall portion 10d. Piece 14 carries one part 17 of a snap fastener, and the mating part 18 of the fastener is attached to flap 11.

To assemble the billfold, piece 14 is inserted between flap portion 10b, which has a hole to receive the snap fastener, and flap portion 10a and the two flap portions are cemented together. Flap blank 11 is laid over the other end of blank 10 and their edges 11a and are inserted into frame piece 12 which is then bent so that its margins 12a and 12b clamp the leather pieces tightly and secure them together.

Bills are inserted through the bail in the position indicated by the dot and dash lines 19 in FIG. 2. Flaps 10a and 11 are snapped together to close the billfold. The multiple score lines 15 permit the billfold to adjust itself readily to the thickness of the stack of bills. To withdraw a bill, flap portion 10a is turned back. As flap 11 is shorter than portion 10d, and thus shorter than one half the length of the bills, the denomination of the top bill is visible. By flipping back the corners, the user may select and remove any bill in the stack without disturbing the others, and the bills remain concealed to anyone except the user. The bail permits the selected bill to be pulled out easily but prevents other bills from accidentally falling out sidewise.

The billfold or wallet shown in FIGS. 5 to 19 is made up of a body blank, generally indicated by the numeral 20, flap blanks 21 and 22, a pair of metal channel shaped frame pieces 23 and 24, the latter carrying a bail 25, metal side pieces 26 and 27 to which liner pieces 28 and 30 and filler pieces 29 and 31 are attached, end caps 32, 33, 34, and 35, and metal reinforcing pieces 36 and 37. The blank 20 has a rear wall portion 20a defined by score lines 53 and 54, top flap portions 20b and 20c, and end flaps 20d and Me. The blank also includes side Wings 207 and 29g extending from portion 20a, and a tab 2% extending from wing 20g. For a lined wallet, a lining piece 38 may be cemented to the body blank 20, over the areas of 20a, 20b, and 20c, and lining pieces 39 and 40 may be cemented to the outer portions of Wings 20 and 20g. Flap blanks 21 and 22 may also be lined.

Reinforcing pieces 36 and 37, which carry parts of snap fasteners 41 and 42, are cemented between flap portions 20b and Zild and flap portions 200 and 2%, respectively. A pull tape 43 is cemented to the lining on the inside of wing 20g. Side pieces 26 and 27 are laid along the bases of wings 2th and 20g, piece 27 being shown in FIG. in assembled position. These pieces are secured by the end caps 32, 33:, 34, 35 which have slots exemplified by slots 32a, 33a, respectively. The ends of the side piece and its liner piece and the corresponding portions of the wing to which the side piece is applied are received in the slot and the end piece is then pressed to clamp these parts together. To secure the end caps more firmly, the metal side pieces are provided with small holes, exemplified by holes 44 in piece 27, and the end caps are indented in the region of these holes after assembly.

Wing 20 has a slot 45 to receive tab 20h. After the side pieces have been assembled onto the bases of the wings, the wings are bent up and across portion 20a. Tab 2911 is inserted through slot 45 and cemented to the under side of wing 20 A rectangular box-like compartment, generally indicated by the numeral 47 in FIG. 9, with rigid sides, is thus formed. This compartment is intended to receive such items as identification cards and charge cards, generally indicated by the numeral 48.

The bill compartment is formed by securing flap blanks 21 and 22 to the side edges of the assembled Wings 20 and 20g by means of frame pieces 23 and 24 which are clamped tight after assembly. Flap blank 22 carries parts of snap fasteners 49 and 50, which mate with parts 41 and 42, respectively.

The bill compartment, generally indicated by the numeral 51, is used in much the same manner as the billfold of FIGS. 1 to 4. Bills are inserted through ball 25 with their ends overlying flap 21. To remove a bill flap 20b is unfastened and bent back. Cards may be removed from compartment 47 by opening flap 20c and drawing the stack out by pull tape 43.

The billfold shown in FIG. is constructed in the same manner as that of FIGS. 5 to 9, but has a change purse 52 attached to the back of portion a. The purse may be constructed and attached in any suitable manner, and any blanks 26 which turn out to have a flaw in portion 20a may thus be economically utilized for making a ladies wallet.

The billfold illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 is made up of a body blank 55, flap blanks 56, 57, and 58, a connector blank 59, frame bars 60 and 62 carrying bails 61 and 63, reinforcing pieces 64 and 65 carrying portions of snap fasteners, and lining pieces or patches 66 and 67. Blanks 55, 56, 57, 58, and 51! are made of the prime leather or other material desired for the exterior of the billfold. Lining pieces 66, 67 and 70 may be made of scraps of the same material or of some less expensive lining material. Blank 55 is scored along fold lines 68 to define a wall portion 55a and a flap portion 55]) with a turn-over margin 550. Wall portion 55a has a pair of slits 69 and 70 adjacent its ends. Blanks 56, 57, and 58 have turn-over margins 56a, 57a, and 58a. Blank 56 carries a tab 71 and blank 59 carries a similar tab 72.

To assemble the billfold of FIG. 12, tabs 71 and 72 are inserted through slits 70 and 69 from the outer finished, of grain face of blank 55 and cemented to the inner face. Pieces 64 and 65 are laid on flap portion 55b and blank 56 and margins 55c and 56a folded over and cemented down. Margins 57a and 58a are likewise folded over and cemented down and portions of snap fasteners 73 and 74 attached. Lining 7th is cemented to the inner face of blank 55 to conceal tabs 71 and 72. Flap blank 57 is laid over the inner face of wall portion with edge 57b aligned with edge 55d and frame bar 60 is clamped around the edges to secure these parts together with bail 61 between them. Flap blank 58 is laid against the outer face of wall portion 55a with edge 58b aligned with the edge 59a of connector piece 59 and these pieces are fastened together by means of frame bar 62 with bail 63 between them. It is understood that in all cases the finished or grain faces of the flaps are disposed to be outward when the flaps are folded over as shown in FIG. 12.

The finished billfold has two bill compartments 75 and 76, each with a bill receiving bail, which may be used for bills of different denominations. As in the form of PEG. 1, the ends of the bills can be seen by unsnapping and raising flap 55b or 56, and a selected bill can be withdrawn, without exposing the rest of the bills.

The billfold shown in FIG. 13 is made in the same Way as that of FIG. 12, except that a somewhat longer connector piece 7'7 carrying a tab 78 is substituted for piece 59 and a longer flap blank 79 is substituted for flap 58. This provides a longer compartment 8% to hold a checkbook 81 having a cardboard tongue 82 inserted through bail 63.

The billfold here described utilizes about half as much leather as a comparable billfold of previous designs. The largest single blank is the cross-shaped blank 20 of the form shown in FIG. 5 and only portions 20a, 29b, and Ztlc of this blank need be free of blemishes. The small flaps and other pieces may be cut from relatively small scraps, and only the exposed parts need be cut from pieces without flaws. It is thus possible to utilize parts of the hide which would otherwise go to waste. For example, in cutting conventional double folded billfolds, the waste of leather may run as high as thirty percent, Whereas in making billfolds of my new type, the waste may be reduced to ten percent. As the leathers used for high quality billfolds are very expensive, this saving in waste results in a substantial reduction in the cost of manufacture. The elimination of all sewing operations is also a substantial economy.

This billfold can be made the exact size of a folded bill, whereas previous billfolds must be somewhat larger to leave a seam allowance at the ends and room for attaching card pockets of usable size. The card compartment in the wallet form is not limited to a single purpose, as are the pockets on an ordinary wallet. The user can insert the exact combination of items which best suits his personal needs, for example, plastic holders for identification cards, calling cards, a small memorandum pad and charge plates can all be inserted, or, if the user desires, the compartment may be used for change, keys and other such small articles. The rigid side pieces serve both to hold the wallet form in shape and protect the articles in the card compartment.

What is claimed is:

1. A billfold comprising a substantially rectangular compartment having a rear wall, rigid side walls, a top wall, and end openings, a first and a second flexible flap one extending over each of said end openings, a third flap overlying said top wall, a rigid frame member extending transversely along said top wall above one of said openings and securing said third flap to said top wall, and a continuous rigid bill receiving bail in the form of a rectangular loop disposed between said third flap and top wall and secured by said frame member.

2. A billfold as described in claim 1, said rear wall, side walls, and top wall, and first and second flaps comprising a single piece of flexible material, and said side walls including flat rigid frame pieces and pairs of end caps having slots in which said frame pieces and the corresponding portions of said material are secured.

3. A billfold as described in claim 1, said rear wall being formed from a blank of flexible material, and said blank having side wings with base portions comprising said side walls and outer portions forming said top wall, one of said latter portions carrying a tab and the other having a slot, in which said tab is received.

4. A billfold as described in claim 1 having means separably securing said first and second flaps to said third flap.

5. A billfold as described in claim 1 having a fourth flap overlying said top wall and a second rigid frame member extending transversely along said top wall above 5 the other of said openings and securing said fourth flap 1,832,900 to said top wall. 1,874,554 6. A-billfold as described in claim 1 having a change 2,455,515 purse mounted on said rear wall. 2,597,967 5 2,658,545

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 773,392 10/1904 Holsapple 15038 1,448,864 7/1921 Pinkerton 15038 6 Godfrey 150--38 Liedel 150-38 Miller 150--38 Anderson 15038 Weydener et a1. 15038 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

1,786,896 12/1929 Conger 15038 10 J. F. MCNULTY, D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A BILLFOLD COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR COMPARTMENT HAVING A REAR WALL, RIGID SIDE WALLS, A TOP WALL, AND END OPENINGS, A FIRST AND A SECOND FLEXIBLE FLAP ONE EXTENDING OVER EACH OF SAID END OPENINGS, A THIRD FLAP OVERLYING SAID TOP WALL, A RIGID FRAME MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ALONG SAID TOP WALL ABOVE ONE OF SAID OPENINGS AND SECURING SAID THIRD FLAP TO SAID TOP WALL, AND A CONTINUOUS RIGID BILL RECEIVING BAIL IN THE FORM OF A RECTANGULAR LOOP DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID THIRD FLAP AND TOP WALL AND SECURED BY SAID FRAME MEMBER. 